Buddha ...

In his effort to propagate Buddhism Ashoka built monastries, shrines, installed pillars inscribed with Buddhist teachings at various places, wrote the teachings on rock surfaces and himself propagated the greatness of nonviolence and true Dharma of people. He even sent missionaries or preachers to Egypt, Greece and other places. His own son who was himself a monk carried the religion to Sri Lanka where it’s a major religion. This dedication and vigorous exertions of Buddhist religion didn’t make Ashoka a fanatic preacher. He was tolerant to other religions as well.


Paying homage to this great soul India has adopted his Lion capital of Sarnath Pillar as an embodiment of power and is used as a symbol of government. It’s been honored as the national emblem


Let’s take short glimpse at the onset of Buddhist religion. Buddhism began somewhere between two thousand years ago and is considered as one of the first major religious and philosophical traditions. It started in north India, (Gaya) under the teachings of Siddhartha Gautama and slowly the philosophy and religion propagated to various places of India and abroad like Japan, China, Thailand, Burma, Cambodia, Vietnam and other places. During 1900s it spread to European countries, US and Australia.


The places of importance for Buddhists are Lumbini where lord Buddha was born, Bodhgaya where he attained enlightenment, and Sarnath where he delivered his first sermon and Khusinagar where Lord Buddha died.


The best part of Buddhism is that it doesn’t prescribe any system of ritual and worship like other religions. Buddhism is a way of life you lead. The main act of Buddhism is Buddha Dharma which means developing your mind, training yourself with good conduct and leading a perfect peace. These things led Lord Buddha question his own life and he found that materialist comforts was not the ultimate gain, it was more than that. Hence he renounced the world and went in search of truth.


Lord Buddha never claimed himself unique in any ways. He taught that anybody could become Buddha and for that he or she must free him or her from the greed of life and comforts and should be able to teach with passion and craving. He should help people in controlling their anger, hatred, greed and enlighten the unenlightened.